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It's time for the postseason tests to begin

With a 9-0 record, a 31.9-point average margin of victory, 2 shutouts and six games with 7 or fewer points allowed, Libertyville has answered the call game in and game out this season.

Perhaps the only legitimate question that needs to be asked about the dominating Wildcats is, "Have they truly been battle-tested?"

In other words, did Libertyville experience enough adversity over the course of the regular season to be able to apply those lessons in the playoffs, when the lights are brighter, the stakes are higher and the pressure is all the more intense?

The playoffs start next week, and Libertyville got the No. 3 seed in the Class 7A playoffs on Saturday night. The Wildcats will host No. 30 Downers Grove North (5-4).

"We were just talking about that, about being battle-tested," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. "And (quarterback) Riley Lees said, 'We went through a lot last year. It's not like we haven't had (adversity). We have a lot of guys back from last year who went through it.' I thought that was a pretty good response."

Last year, Libertyville experienced the growing pains of a young team. Injuries were also a factor. And some close losses kept the Wildcats unsatisfied and hungry.

"Here's where those experiences from last year kick in," Jones said. "That's what we're hoping."

Libertyville was one of seven teams from the Daily Herald's Lake County coverage area to make the IHSA playoffs.

Stevenson and Warren, Libertyville's rivals in the North Suburban Lake Division, made the Class 8A field.

Stevenson, the defending Class 8A champion, is the No. 16 seed with a 6-3 record and will host No. 17 Conant (6-3).

"I think Stevenson is extremely dangerous," said Warren coach Bryan McNulty, whose team beat Stevenson 30-27 in Week 6. "When you're coming off a state title, you're battle-tested. They've been there and are a very proud program. They've played a very tough schedule this year. They won't go down easily."

McNulty's team will probably be a tough out, too.

With 51 playoffs points, more than any other 5-4 team in the state, Warren made the field thanks to its insanely tough schedule. The Blue Devils played six playoff teams.

No. 22 Warren (5-4) will visit No. 11 Chicago Curie (8-1).

"We lost last night (to Lake Zurich) and we would have liked to have come in (to the playoffs) with a win, but we still feel good because we believe we are really battle-tested," McNulty said. "We feel that our strength of schedule will show up now in the playoffs. A tough schedule makes you show who you are and that's what I want for this program."

Another qualifier on points was 5-4 Wauconda, which is one of five Lake County teams to make the Class 6A bracket. The others are Grayslake North, Lakes, Deerfield and Lake Forest.

No. 6 Grayslake North (6-3) will host No. 11 Chicago Hubbard (6-3) while No. 10 Lakes (6-3) will visit No. 7 Lake Forest (6-3).

No. 16 Wauconda, which will visit No. 1 Montini (9-0), was under the gun all season, having lost four of its first five games. The Bulldogs had to win their last four games to have a shot at qualifying on points. With 43 points, they did just that.

This is Wauconda's first playoff appearance since 2012 and only its third since 1998.

Another "long-time, no-see" team returning to the party is Vernon Hills in Class 5A. The No. 14 Cougars (6-3) are making their first playoff appearance in five years. They'll travel to No. 3 Joliet Catholic (8-1).

Vernon Hills, which started 5-0 but lost its next three games, had to win its regular season finale on Friday (a 51-14 win over Round Lake) to qualify for the playoffs. A five-win season wouldn't have cut it for the Cougars, who had only 26 playoff points, fewest in the North Suburban Prairie Division.

"We were frustrated (during the three-game skid) because we weren't doing the little things," Vernon Hills coach Bill Bellecomo said. "We were right there in those games. We really feel like we could have just as easily been 9-0 had we executed just a little better.

"But we learned some valuable lessons and now we're loose. We don't fear anyone. We're playing Joliet Catholic and we got a tough draw there. But we're ready. Why not start with the best?"

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